At Last, Some Consensus

Today finds the House scrambling to pass its controversial version of the 2007 farm bill. And by controversial, we mean everyone hates it — Democrats, Republicans, and the White House. The $286 billion package, which contains about $42 billion in subsidies, ends subsidies to farmers with an income of over $1 million, down from $2.5 million. Some Democrats want to lower that cap further, and other Dems worry that the bill doesn’t contain enough funding for conservation and nutrition. Republicans are upset about a proposed tax on the American holdings of overseas ag companies, which would fund food stamps and other programs. And the White House has threatened a veto over the failure to reform the subsidy system. “There is something in this bill for everybody to like,” said Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), chair of the Agriculture Committee. “There’s probably something in this bill for everybody not to like, but it’s a step in the right direction.” The Senate will take up the debate in September.